Why The Maze Runner Trilogy Still Outshines Stranger Things
As The Maze Runner leaves Netflix this week, a comparison reveals why this dystopian trilogy's storytelling approach might be superior to the streaming giant's flagship sci-fi series.
Netflix's flagship sci-fi series has dominated conversations about young adult genre entertainment for years. The show built its reputation through carefully orchestrated release events and massive cultural moments. But as The Maze Runner trilogy prepares to exit the platform on January 9, the comparison between these two franchises reveals some surprising truths about storytelling in the streaming age.
The Dystopian Trilogy That Refused to Stand Still
The Maze Runner films, released between 2014 and 2018, took a radically different approach to world-building. Each movie systematically destroyed what came before. The Glade's structured society gets obliterated by the end of the first film. Characters never return to that safe haven.
The Scorch Trials throws everyone into wasteland territories. Ruined cities replace familiar corridors. Human enemies prove more dangerous than any creature from the maze. The Death Cure shifts focus again to corporate-controlled settlements and the organization behind everything. Each film answers previous questions while revealing a harsher reality.
This progression creates genuine forward momentum. Settings change completely. Social structures collapse and rebuild. Conflicts evolve rather than repeat. The trilogy functions as an actual journey instead of variations on familiar themes.
When Platform Strategy Overtakes Story Development
Netflix's approach centers on event-driven releases. Long gaps between seasons build anticipation. Split volumes extend engagement windows. Marketing campaigns dominate social media for weeks. The show becomes synonymous with Netflix's release calendar rather than its narrative arc.
The streaming series often feels strongest during its premiere windows. Conversation peaks, then fades until the next announcement. Characters remain anchored to the same geographic location across multiple seasons. Threats escalate but rarely transform the fundamental setup.
The Maze Runner trilogy simply moved forward with each installment. No multi-year waits between chapters. No artificial splitting of storylines. Each film picked up where the previous one ended and pushed toward clear resolution. The focus stayed on story progression rather than platform optimization.
Budget comparisons tell their own story. The entire Maze Runner trilogy cost approximately $157 million across three films. Netflix reportedly spent $400-480 million on the upcoming final season alone. Yet the theatrical trilogy delivered a complete narrative arc while the streaming series has stretched its central premise across nearly a decade.
The dystopian films prove that YA sci-fi can work without endless extensions. Sometimes finishing the story beats prolonging the experience.